For rest of season, Chargers can expect more O-line woes

Jared Gaither became a Charger a year ago Friday. The left tackle saved the day and nearly salvaged a lost season in 2011 with five excellent performances. He signed Nov. 30, 2011, started the next game and healed an ailing offensive line.

Gaither helped the front five snap a six-game losing streak and finish the season strong. It's no surprise that, with a strong left tackle and a cohesive line, those Chargers won four of five.

Now fast forward a year. The offensive line is right back where it started, toiling without a legitimate left tackle. Gaither is on injured reserve with a groin injury, ending a season where he played parts of four games and missed all of training camp.

Turns out that first anniversary isn't worth the paper meant to signify it. Since signing his four-year $24.6 million contract this offseason, he's done precious little to improve his employer's lot. He wasn't on the sideline Sunday when his team played Baltimore. He hasn't been at Chargers Park since going on IR.

The Chargers miss him dearly. They're forced to play Mike Harris, the NFL's worst offensive tackle in terms of pressure allowed. The undrafted rookie was pushed into the pool without many swim lessons, and he is trying his best to tread water.

“He got pushed in, but he's not drowning,” left guard Tyronne Green said. “Mike has all the physical tools to play in this league. He just needs some games under his belt to really flourish. He's learning. He's trying hard every. With the situation he's in, you can't ask for any more than that.”

A valiant effort hasn't produced well, having allowed six sacks, five quarterback hits and 36 quarterback hurries. Philip Rivers has been pressured from the blind side 47 times in seven games, a startling total that is just one troubling sign of a line in decline.

The Chargers are on pace to give up 46 sacks, 23 quarterback hits and 151 hurries while protecting an immobile quarterback. The Chargers are 32-16-114 largely with the personnel they have.

This time, the cavalry isn't coming. The starting five you see is what you get. What you have is inconsistency, which comes with a rookie left tackle and a right tackle in Jeromey Clary asked to do too much on his own.

“What's got us more than anything is the bad play, and that's not exclusive to any one lineman,” Chargers coach Norv Turner said. “We go through stretches where we're fine, and then we make a mistake that really hurts us. You get away with them sometimes, but when you don't bad things that fans notice. When they become a big negatives, they end drives or create turnovers, which is what has happened to us.”

There are several examples of that. Rivers got bull-rushed on a last-minute drive in New Orleans when Gaither was hobbled. Denver's Elvis Dumervil blew by Clary and forced a sack-fumble that was recovered for a touchdown.

It's easy to say those plays changed a season, but it's not all together fair.

But the offensive line didn't miss tackles on 4th-and-29. The front five didn't get a punt blocked (twice) and certainly didn't throw it right to a Tampa Bay Buccaneer with a game on the line.

The offensive line isn't the only reason why the Chargers have struggled, but it is part of the problem.

“There are so many factors you need to go right for a play to happen, and it takes just one mistake for it all to fall apart,” left guard Tyronne Green said. “That's especially true up front. Without us performing well, a play rarely stands a chance.”

Offensive linemen are hard to grade with an untrained eye, so gradual improvement is hard to pinpoint. So is hope for the immediate future. Offensive line coach Hal Hunter wouldn't assist, declining an interview request for this story.

Right now, a few things are obvious. The offensive line is allowing too much pressure on the quarterback. Line captain Nick Hardwick doesn't believe it'll stay that way, even with personnel remaining relatively static.

“The thing we can all do is communicate and give each other every piece of information that can help a given play work out,” Hardwick said. “We need to be supportive and encouraging of each other. I don't think any other way is conducive to getting better. You come to work, you put ultimate focus into practice and your technique. It's a daily thing and, when you layer those practices and games together, you see tangible improvement. That's how you get to where you want to be and need to be.”